Testing the distinctiveness of prolonged grief disorder from posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in large bereaved community samples

M Shevlin, Enya Redican, Thanos Karatzias, Philip Hyland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
97 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: This study sought to test the distinctiveness of symptoms of prolonged grief disorder (PGD) from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and target exploratory factor analysis (EFA), were used to test the distinctiveness of PGD from PTSD and depression symptoms in a large sample of adults bereaved for at least six months (N = 1,917). Identified factors were explored in relation to demographic (i.e., age, gender) and loss-related (i.e., time since bereavement, nature of death, relationship to deceased, age of deceased, and frequency of contact with deceased) correlates.
Results: The CFA model provided a good fit to the data, while the target EFA provided a slightly improved fit. All items loading strongly and significantly onto their respectively factors, and the IGQ items had few significant cross-factor loadings. All demographic and loss-related variables (except for death of a sibling and death from other causes) were associated with each of the factors, however, these associations were strongest for the PGD factor.
Limitations: Participants were recruited using a non-probability sampling method and were from a relatively affluent Western nation.
Conclusion: Findings from the current study demonstrate that PGD reflects an empirically distinguishable albeit related disorder to PTSD and depression in a sample of bereaved adults. The identification of correlates common to PGD, PTSD, and depression, as well as those unique to PGD, affords a comprehensive understanding of the risk factors associated with bereavement-related psychopathology.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)214-220
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Affective Disorders
Volume363
Early online date22 Jul 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished online - 22 Jul 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s)

Keywords

  • Prolonged Grief Disorder; Depression; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
  • Depression
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder
  • Prolonged grief disorder

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